Senegal

People carrying lanterns watch the sky at night during the annual Perseid meteor shower in El Escorial, outside Madrid, Aug. 13, 2015.

This Senegalese astronomer is helping NASA measure asteroids in space

NASA is working with Senegalese astronomers to measure the dimensions of asteroids in outer space. Astronomer Maram Kaire speaks with The World's host Marco Werman about the work of "chasing after the shadow cast by the asteroids."

This Senegalese astronomer is helping NASA measure asteroids in space
At the La Perseverancia market in Bogotá, Colombia customers have noticed that prices for many foods are increasing. With the war in Ukraine, inflation could get worse.

For developing countries, the war in Ukraine means even higher food prices

For developing countries, the war in Ukraine means even higher food prices
Mohamed Mbougar Sarr on a TV show after winning the Prix Goncourt.

Senegalese novelist Mohamed Mbougar Sarr's win is a landmark for African literature

Senegalese novelist Mohamed Mbougar Sarr's win is a landmark for African literature
Several people are shown running and crouching down in a dirt road.

EXPLAINER: Why Senegal protesters are clashing with police

EXPLAINER: Why Senegal protesters are clashing with police
A person wearing an air-filtration mask and helmet is show looking through makeshift metal barriers with the words 'Defense Force' and a hand holding up three fingers painted on them.

The lethal crackdown in Myanmar continues with widespread calls for the violence to end

The lethal crackdown in Myanmar continues with widespread calls for the violence to end
Rescue workers carry the body of a dead migrant after a boat with 35 migrants from the Maghreb region capsized at the beach of Orzola, in the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Spain, Nov. 25, 2020.

Canary Islands face influx of migrants from West Africa

About 20,000 African migrants have reached the Spanish archipelago this year, half of whom arrived in the last two months alone. More than 500 have died attempting the journey.

Canary Islands face influx of migrants from West Africa
A Palestinian teacher, at right, wears a protective face mask on the first day of class of the new school year at the United Nations-run elementary school at the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, August 8, 2020.

Top UN education official: Pandemic causing rethink of global learning

The World's host Marco Werman speaks with Stefania Giannini, the UN's assistant director-general for education about the impact of the coronavirus on schools and students.

Top UN education official: Pandemic causing rethink of global learning
A woman is shown in a photograph from behind wearing a tin-foil hat.

The risks of reopening too early; Afghanistan suffers attack on maternity hospital; Researchers in Senegal are developing coronavirus home test kit

Germany considers pulling its "emergency brake" as coronavirus cases climb after some lockdown measures were lifted. Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of several women in leadership who have been relatively successful at handling the crisis. And, in Senegal, researchers are working to design a kit that can test for the coronavirus at home. It could help solve the problem of under testing on the continent. Also, Amsterdam's recovery plan focuses on "doughnut economics," while in Sweden, one restaurant is taking solo dining to the middle of a meadow.

The risks of reopening too early; Afghanistan suffers attack on maternity hospital; Researchers in Senegal are developing coronavirus home test kit
A woman in a white robe carries some lab material inside lab in Senegal.

Researchers in Senegal are developing a coronavirus test kit to be used across Africa

Reaching rural populations is one of the biggest challenges to achieving widespread testing in Africa. About 60% of sub-Saharan Africa is rural.

Researchers in Senegal are developing a coronavirus test kit to be used across Africa
A man meditates at the beach amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dakar, Senegal, March 26, 2020.

In Senegal, COVID-19 safety measures conflict with cultural traditions

The country has the fourth-highest number of COVID-19 cases in sub-Saharan Africa, and prevention measures have been in place for several weeks now.

In Senegal, COVID-19 safety measures conflict with cultural traditions
A woman riding a wave

An Olympic hopeful from Senegal hopes to inspire more black women to surf

Black female surfers say they often have to battle aggression and isolation while out in the water. One group from Northern California hopes to change that by helping more black female surfers compete professionally.

An Olympic hopeful from Senegal hopes to inspire more black women to surf
a screenshot of the BBC's pidgin language site

Why West Africa's pidgins deserve full recognition as official languages

Today, variations of pidgins are used in all spheres of life ranging from political campaigns, television and radio broadcast.

Why West Africa's pidgins deserve full recognition as official languages
Senegal

Overfished: In Senegal, empty nets lead to hunger and violence

The crisis is now forcing West African countries fronting the Atlantic to fight one another over the fish that remain.

Overfished: In Senegal, empty nets lead to hunger and violence
Yoff beach

Senegalese women turn to exporting fish in spite of local shortages

In Senegal, an estimated 40,000 women work as fish processors. But a trifecta of problems — overfishing by foreign fleets, illegal fishing and climate change — is making fish scarce in the region and hitting processors the hardest. In an attempt to make ends meet, fishermen are selling what they are able to catch to fresh fish traders and export factories, who’ll pay more for a batch than the processors, leaving the women high and dry.

Senegalese women turn to exporting fish in spite of local shortages
Students learn Arabic script at a Quranic school on the outskirts of Senegal's capital Dakar, May 7, 2008.

Senegal tried to crack down on schools forcing children to beg. But thousands of kids are still in the streets.

Somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 children are forced to beg on the streets of Senegal. The money they collect goes to their Quranic instructors in exchange for teaching, food and housing. Rights activists say it's a form of modern slavery. But some in Senegal say it's just tradition.

Senegal tried to crack down on schools forcing children to beg. But thousands of kids are still in the streets.